Dad arrested for slashing daughter's throat over Facebook use

A Thai man was arrested on Monday for slashing his daughter's throat after an argument about her Facebook and smartphone use the day before, police told dpa.

Surin Kaewrae, 41, confessed to attacking his 13-year-old daughter with a knife after a dispute over her excessive use of Facebook and a smartphone, said Sornkrai Poonperm, police commissioner of Petchburi province, some 120 kilometres south-west of Bangkok.

His daughter survived the attack and is being treated in hospital.

According to Sornkrai, Surin was apprehended while on the run with his 5-year-old daughter in a nearby province. He has previously been sentenced to three years for other crimes.

Surin told police he had many arguments with his daughter previously. He said he had told her several times to study rather than chat with her boyfriend, but his daughter never listened.

Later on Monday, Surin's wife Hattaya Kaewrae, the victim's mother, attempted to physically attack her husband but was held back by police, broadcaster Thairath reported.

Surin has been charged with attempted murder and is in police custody.